My dog is shivering after heartworm injections. Is this normal?

Depending on the type of heart worm preventative you gave, it can cause upset tummy like vomiting and even diarrhea. Next time I would recommend to make sure she has had a full meal prior to giving the medicine or you can change to a different medicine all together. Finally, if she isn't improved by tomorrow I would contact your vet for an exam and make sure she doesn't need any fluids or anti-nausea medicine. I hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, sometimes as the worms are dying off that can result in respiratory issues as they dislodge. Paleness and cold extremities can sometimes be seen in patients that have abnormal oxygen delivery which can happen in these cases. Usually the first 2 weeks are critical when treating for heartworms. I recommend that you him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment. It would be good to check if he is having any issues with oxygen delivery. Good luck!

It could be that Starla may have a mild fever, which can be a common side effect after receiving vaccines. She may have some pain or discomfort as well at the site of the injections. These side effects should clear up in a day or two, but I would monitor her breathing for now. Should she experience difficulty breathing, this is not normal, and you will have to take her into the vet immediately.

Injection site reaction is common after these injections as they are given deep in the musculature. If there was any movement or any residue that got outside of the injection, then the reaction seems to be worse. At 5 weeks, it should not be painful anymore, although a firm swelling is likely to still remain. I would contact your vet for a recheck to make sure there is no infection at the site and nothing else causing a problem

This treatment could cause lethargy, it's quite common and this is one of the reason restriction is a must. if she becomes too lethargic you might need to take her to the ER, especially if you notice abnormal breathing.

Side effects can be common after heartworm treatment shots. You can see soreness and swelling at the site of the injection, and abscesses can form over time in this spot. Definitely let your vet know of Charlie is very uncomfortable or if his condition appears to be worsening over time. The most severe problems are related to the sudden death of large amounts of heartworms. Get Charlie into a vet right away if you notice a cough or a pre-existing cough becomes worse, he has difficulty breathing, pants excessively, becomes weak or lethargic, collapses, he has a significant drop in exercise, he starts vomiting, drools a lot, or has diarrhea. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Given that it was at least a week after the injection, I would not suspect it was the cause of her symptoms. If she was to experience a reaction to the injection, it would normally occur much sooner after the injection was normally given. Bees are very toxic to dogs, and it is possible that Ivy was stung by one even if you didn't happen to see it. You did absolutely the right thing by rushing her into the ER vet, and I'm so glad that she recovered quickly . I hope she also recovers fully from heartworm :-)